diff --git a/gdbstub.c b/gdbstub.c
index 23baaef40e..141d7bc4ec 100644
--- a/gdbstub.c
+++ b/gdbstub.c
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ static inline int cpu_gdb_index(CPUState *cpu)
 {
 #if defined(CONFIG_USER_ONLY)
     TaskState *ts = (TaskState *) cpu->opaque;
-    return ts->ts_tid;
+    return ts ? ts->ts_tid : -1;
 #else
     return cpu->cpu_index + 1;
 #endif